Beading Glossary

A

 

Amber

Fossilized organic resin of ancient tree

 

 

B

 

Bayonet Clasp

A classic among clasps: two trim tubes interlocked together

Bead Board

Helpful equipment to line up pearls and bead when designing chains and jewelry

Bead Cord

More than just a common thread: GRIFFIN Bead Cords receive the precise number of twists under optimal tension during their manufacture in order to prevent fraying as well as tangling and knotting

Bead Cord Cutter

A micro serrated cutter especially made for cutting High Performance and Nylon Bead Cords

Bead Cord/Wire End

Ending pressed firmly together on Bead Cord ends with small diameter

Beading Needle

Extra flexible needle for stringing beads on Bead Cord threats. Made out of one stainless steel wire, twisted together with a round eye

Bead Reamer

A tool for filing and smoothing the inside of an abrasive bead. GRIFFIN reamers come with three diamond coated bits. They should be used with water for lubrication

Bell Cap

A traditional and very popular ending, used to achieve a durable and elegant positioning of the final knot at the clasp. The wire or cord ends are invisibly glued into the Bell Cap with shellac

Bouillon

Very fine, flexible and tightly coiled wire, that gives very professional finished ends to necklaces by being pulled over the end of Bead Cords

 

 

C

 

Carat

The unit of weight used for precious stones. One carat is equal to one-fifth of a gram. Also a measurement of fitness in gold. Pure gold is expressed as 24k

Carded Bead Cord

GRIFFIN Bead Cord on cards have a special stainless steel beading needle attached, which does away with cumbersome threading and doubling of the thread during stringing

Chain Nose Pliers

The two sides of the pliers taper to a point. It is used in wire wrapping with Craft Wire

Charms

Small ornaments worn as pendants or on a bracelet

Choker

A tight fitting necklace worn close to the base of the neck, length 35,5 - 41 cm
Craft Wire Copper wire that can be shaped with pliers
Crimp Beads Round metal beads that attach pearls and stones firmly to the wire or Bead Cord without the use of glue. Crimp Beads are either pressed together with pliers or added loosely as spacers
Crimp Tubes Tube metal beads that attach pearls and stones firmly to the wire or Bead Cord without the use of glue. Crimp Tubes are pressed together with special pliers
Crossed Tweezers Tweezers with self-closing tip to free up one hand during beading
Cutters There are many types of cutters. It important to choose the right type for the job: Hard Wire Cutter are most suitable for Stainless Steel Wires, Bead Cord Cutters are perfect for a clean cut of all Bead Cords
   

D

 
Diameter A word to describe either the thickness of a cord or a wire or the size of beads and bead holes
Diamond Quality Extra soft and smooth silk thread quality of Griffin Bead Cord on spools
Dog Collar A broad, choker like necklace, often consisting of numerous parallel strands of beads or pearls
Double Eye Tag Double metal ring made out of one wire. Used either as links between bead tips and clasps
   

E

 
Elastic Cord An elastic cord, ideal to make elastic pieces of jewelry that can be slipped on such as bracelets, hair bands and children's jewelry
   

F

 
Finding Findings include Jump Rings, Clasps, Bouillons, Crimps and Endings, to name a few
Fishhook Earwires Earwire without closure
Flat Nose Pliers The two sides of the pliers form rectangles
Friction Clasp Extremely simple and basic type of a clasp
   

G

 
Gauge A standard measure for the thickness of a wire: the higher the number, the thinner the wire is
   

H

 
Habotai Silk Especially smooth and almost white pure silk made in China
Headpins with pad
Practical little helpers for pendants on necklaces or earrings
HiFlex Nylon Coating A transparent extra flexible and transparent coating for Stainless Steel Wires
High Performance Bead Cord Bead Cord that consists of high-tech fibers with a specially dense molecular structure. Its tensile strenght is 15 times stronger than steel and therefore the strongest fibres of the world
Hinged Earwings Earwires with liftable closure
   
I  
Illusion Cord A crystal-clear nylon thread especially developed for the manufacture of jewelry. It is eminently suited for the creation of necklaces which incorporate seemingly "floating" pieces of jewelry
   

J

 
Jewelry Polishing Cloth Polishing cloth suitable for the general cleaning and polishing of jewelry
Jewelry Ribbon Loosely interwoven fine wires with lacquer finish, formed to a ribbon
Jump Ring Metal ring used either as a link between bead tip and clasp or as a connector between beads alone
   

K

 
Knotted necklace A necklace made of Bead Cord, that is knotted continuous between the single pearls or stones. The reasons are grater safety, increased flexibility and better protection of the pearls against each other
Knotting Tweezers Tweezers designed to position and tighten knots precisely at knotted pearl necklaces
   

L

 
Lobster Clasp Variation of Spring Ring clasps, but easier to use
   

M

 
Manchette Bracelet A cross with four broad arms of equal length, with tips that look like inward pointing arrowheads
Matinee length A single row necklace ranging from 30 inches to 35 inches
Matt surface Surface with a dull finish, particularly on metals
Micro Crimper Special Pliers for crimping small tube crimps
Modelling Wire Color coated wire based on copper, can be easily and effortlessly be shaped
Monofilament Single strand threat like Illusion Cord
Multi-Strand End Ending for jewelry made of multiple strands
   

N

 
Natural Silk Bead Cord Traditional material for stringing beads for centuries. 100% natural silk Bead Cord is made exclusively from the high-grade filament of the silk cocoon. These threads have the characteristic lustre and irresistible natural beauty
Necklace Closely fitting jewelry worn around the neck in classical shape, usually multi-strand. Length 30 - 33 cm
Nickel A silver-white metal popular for plating, because it is malleable and resists oxidation. The most common of metal allergies
Nylon Bead Cord A strong, specially treated polyamide thread with a good tensile strength. Stretches only about 3 - 4% under tention and return to its original length when released.
   

O

 
Opal Transmits some light and shows shifting colors
Opaque Non transparent, does not transmit light
Opera length Single row classical pearl chain in traditional evening length (71 - 86 cm)
   

P

 
Patina The coloration that occurs in certain metals when they are exposed at length to the atmosphere
Pearl An organic gemstone made of calcium carbonate with organic matter. Formed when a fore of sand or parasite becomes trapped inside a shell of a mollusk
Pearl Caring Cloth Extra soft and free of chemical cleaning agents polishing cloth
Pearl Tweezers Tweezers with specially shaped cup tips to safely pick
Pendant An ornament suspended from a single chain
Polishing The process that increases shine and eliminates flaws.
Posts Classic ear ornament with attached closure
Precious Stones Rare and costly gems: diamonds, emeralds and sapphires
Princess length Necklace worn just under the collarbone, ideal for attaching pendants
   

Q

 
Queen length Single row pearl chain which can be slung around the neck three times, length 88 cm and more
   

R

 
Rhodium An expensive whitish-gray metallic element from the platin family
Rope Necklace Length 40 - 45 inches
Round Bead Clasp A elegant round clasp frequently used for classical pearl necklaces with a strong magnet inside to hold the clasp together as a secure unit
Round Nose Pliers The tips of the pliers are two graduated cylinders. The whole length of the two cylinders fit together
   

S

 
Seed Beads Small round glass beads that range in a number of sizes, colors and finishes. The larger the number, the smaller the bead
Semiprecious Stone Natural stones, that generally have a lower value than precious stones: amethyst, carnelian, garnet
Shellac This well tried glue is perfect for fixing endings to Bead Cord and wire ends. It has a low melting point and dries quickly and hard
S-Hook Clasp Decorative interlocking hook with two linking rings or double eyelets
Slide Lock Clasp Multi strand clasp with two cylinders sliding together securely into each other
Silver Care Cloth Polishing cloth, that prevents silver parts from becoming tarnish with time.
Snap Lock Clasp A mechanical locking round or oval clasp
Spacer Connector to maintain the separation of multiple strand necklaces
Split Ring Multiple looped ending suited to attach clasps to pieces of jewelry or to connect separate pieces of jewelry. The opening and closing Split Rings is made easy with special Split Ring Pliers
Split Ring Pliers A pair of pliers with curved nose to open Split Rings
Spring Ring A popular and safe ring clasp with a spring inside
Squeeze Capsules Endings that bundle one or more strands of Bead Cord or Wire, so they can be connected to clasps
Stainless Steel Wire A real steel cable in miniature especially made for bead stringing. Griffin Stainless Steel Wire are all nylon coated to protect the wire structure against untwisting
Stringing Tweezers Perfect workmanship for precise holding and positioning of beads, cords and wires
Super Glue Quickly bonding liquid glue on general sale
   

T

 
Tube End Ending for wire ends, which will be glued to it wit a special glue
   

W

 
Wire Guardian Ending that protects wire ends against breakage at the clasp

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